Frankie O'Connell is a Reader in Air Transport Management (equivalent to Associate Professor) at the University of Surrey's Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management. He holds a PhD in Airline Strategy from Cranfield University, an MSc in Air Transport Management from Cranfield, and an MBA in Aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. His extensive industry experience includes roles at Boeing and consultancy work with over 55 airlines globally. Research focuses on airline strategy, revenue management, environmental policies, and the impact of global events like pandemics and political conflicts on aviation. Recent work examines airline pricing psychology, blockchain applications in maintenance operations, and sustainability initiatives including passenger willingness to pay for carbon taxes. Dr. O'Connell's publications demonstrate methodological diversity, combining econometric analysis, behavioral experiments, and case studies of airlines in Southeast Asia and Europe. His research informs airline management practices, regulatory policy, and crisis response strategies in global aviation.
Yolanda Becerra Fontal is a faculty member at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), affiliated with the Department of Computer Architecture within the Barcelona School of Informatics (FIB). She is actively involved in research projects and collaborations, notably with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and is a member of prominent research groups such as the High Performance Computing Group (CAP) and CROMAI (Computing Resources Orchestration and Management for AI). Research Interests: Her research spans a broad spectrum of computer systems, with a consistent focus on performance, efficiency, and scalability. Key areas include Computer Architecture , High-Performance Computing (HPC) , Distributed and Cloud Systems , Resource and Energy Management in virtualized environments, and Data-Intensive Computing . More recently, her work has centered on innovative time-series database systems and data management for edge and cloud analytics. Publication Trends: Her recent scholarly output (2020-2022) shows a strong emphasis on time-series data management, proposing novel database architectures like NagareDB and strategies for polyglot persistence. Earlier work (2009-2013) was pivotal in MapReduce workload management, energy accounting for virtualized systems, and optical data center networks, demonstrating a long-standing contribution to foundational distributed computing challenges. Scientific Contributions: Her work has been published in top-tier journals and conferences such as Future Generation Computer Systems , IEEE Transactions , and Nucleic Acids Research . She has also contributed to significant competitive R&D projects and holds patents related to data flow management and distributed indexing. Advising and Grants: Dr. Becerra Fontal has served as a thesis advisor for doctoral students. Her research has been funded through competitive grants from national and regional programs, including Spanish State Research Plans (Plan Estatal de Investigación) and Catalonia's RIS3CAT strategy, supporting projects on high-performance computing and data management. Research Groups and Labs: She is a core member of the CAP - High Performance Computing Group and the CROMAI - Computing Resources Orchestration and Management for AI group at UPC. Her work is closely associated with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) , one of Europe's leading supercomputing facilities, indicating access to advanced computational infrastructure.
George Vairaktarakis is a Professor at the Department of Operations, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University. His research focuses on subcontracting, production chain coordination, and project management, with impactful findings reducing production costs by 30% while improving service efficiency. He holds the William E. Umstattd Professorship in Industrial Economics and serves as Director of the Master of Science in Management - Operations Research and Supply Chain Management program. Education: PhD in Operations (University of Florida, 1994) MSc in Industrial Engineering (University of Florida, 1992) MSc in Applied Mathematics (University of South Carolina, 1990) BS in Applied Mathematics (University of Patras, 1988) Vairaktarakis investigates time/cost-sensitive project management, third-party logistics, and workforce planning using mathematical models like integer programming and game theory. His work addresses decentralized production coordination, contract design for subcontracting, and resource flexibility in manufacturing systems. His publications span top journals including Management Science, Operations Research, and Naval Research Logistics. Key research trends include optimization of outsourced operations, game-theoretic analysis of supply chain collaboration, and robust scheduling methodologies. His editorial roles include Senior Editor at Production & Operations Management and Associate Editor at Naval Research Logistics. Awards: William E. Umstattd Professorship (2014), Alcoa Teaching Excellence Award (2013) Teaching: Developed Lean Operations and project management courses for MBA/executive programs globally Service: Held leadership roles in Faculty Council, Academic Integrity Office, and editorial boards
Daniela Guericke is an Assistant Professor at the University of Twente in the Department of Industrial Engineering & Business Information Systems. Her research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals in Artificial Intelligence, Health, Energy, Climate, and Circular Economy. She specializes in modeling, simulation, optimization, and data science for energy systems and sustainable industry. Research Trends: Daniela's recent work focuses on Stochastic network optimization for district heating systems Multi-objective scheduling with energy tariffs Hydrogen railway infrastructure design Renewable energy community planning Demand response integration in large-scale energy systems Labs & Collaborations: She collaborates with the CITIES project (Centre for IT-Intelligent Energy Systems) and contributes to advancements in smart grids, energy efficiency, and circular economy frameworks.
Joshua D. Rhodes serves as a Lecturer and Research Scientist at The University of Texas at Austin, with additional roles as a non-Resident Fellow at Columbia University and Founding Partner of IdeaSmiths LLC. His expertise centers on smart grid technology, bulk electricity systems, and energy policy within the Texas electricity market (ERCOT). His academic credentials include: Double Bachelor's in Mathematics and Economics from Stephen F. Austin State University Master's in Computational Mathematics from Texas A&M University Master's in Architectural Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin Rhodes' research spans smart grid applications , resource planning , distributed generation , and energy storage , with emphasis on ERCOT grid dynamics. He investigates how energy efficiency retrofits, renewable integration, and climate change impact grid reliability, while analyzing policy effects on micro/macro economic efficiency. His work frequently combines spatial modeling with economic analysis to address infrastructure challenges. Analysis of his 40+ publications reveals dominant themes in Texas electricity infrastructure, including renewable integration economics, electrification impacts, and climate resilience. Key trends show increasing focus on Winter Storm Uri aftermath analysis, hydrogen infrastructure development, and optimal maintenance scheduling under climate change. His research consistently bridges engineering systems with policy implications, particularly regarding ERCOT's unique market structure. Rhodes actively engages public discourse as a Forbes contributor and AXIOS Expert Voice, while serving on the board of Catalyst Cooperative—a nonprofit advancing energy data transparency. His professional activities demonstrate strong integration of academic research with real-world energy policy applications.
Dr. Liqiang Zhang is a Professor at the Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Indiana University South Bend. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Wayne State University (2005). His research focuses on wireless networks, mobile computing, resource allocation, IoT, cognitive radio networks, and network security. His work is supported by IU and the National Science Foundation. He has organized multiple conferences including ICCCN 2013 (Track Chair), GLOBECOM 2010 (Publicity Co-Chair), and founded/co-chaired WiMAN workshops. He serves as a Guest Editor for journals like ACM Transactions on Autonomous and Adaptive Systems and Elsevier's Computer Communications. He reviews for top journals including IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing and IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems. Dr. Zhang teaches courses such as Computer Structures, Mobile App Development, and Network Security. Recent publications (2019-2009) include advancements in network scheduling, cognitive radio protocols, radar positioning, and digital design education. His research spans both theoretical and applied aspects of networking and distributed systems.
Saad Mubeen is a Full Professor of Computer Science at Mälardalen University, Sweden, affiliated with the School of Innovation, Design and Engineering and the Division of Networked and Embedded Systems. He holds a Master's in Electrical Engineering (Embedded Systems) and a PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from Mälardalen University (2014), with a Docent title (2018) focused on vehicular embedded systems. His research emphasizes predictable embedded systems, timing analysis for real-time communication, and component-based software design. Key areas include model-driven development for automotive systems, integration of TSN/5G networks, and fault-tolerant industrial architectures. He has led projects on end-to-end timing analysis in distributed systems, ROS 2 verification, and cognitive edge-cloud scheduling. Publications span 2021–2025, focusing on real-time systems, network protocols (TSN, AVB, 5G), and industrial automation. Notable work includes frameworks for TSN configuration, fault diagnosis tools using NETCONF, and scheduling algorithms for heterogeneous edge-cloud environments. His contributions address critical challenges in timing predictability, security, and resource optimization for cyber-physical systems. Education contributions include problem-based learning modules for vehicular software engineering. He is actively involved in bridging academia and industry through collaborative research on next-generation automotive and industrial systems.
George Pallis is a Professor in the Department of Informatics at the University of Cyprus, affiliated with the School of Science. He holds a BSc and PhD from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. His research focuses on Distributed and Network Computing, Big Data Analytics, and Cloud/Edge/Fog Computing. He leads the Master's Program in Data Science and has secured over €5.5M in research funding from the EU, Cyprus, and industry partners like Google. Education: BSc (2001), PhD (2006) from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Research Interests include Internet technologies, large-scale network environments, and cloud computing. He has published over 100 articles in top-tier journals and conferences (e.g., IEEE TKDE, ACM TOIT, WWW, ICDCS) and contributed to international standards (DIN, CEN). His work spans topics like fake news detection, edge computing frameworks, and energy-efficient micro-data centers. Key Achievements: Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of IEEE Internet Computing, recipient of multiple best paper awards, and contributor to projects like RAINBOW (H2020), UNICORN, and ICARUS. His research explores cutting-edge areas such as LLM manipulation, polarization detection, and carbon-aware computing. He has supervised five PhD students and served as General Chair for IEEE/ACM SEC 2024 and IEEE IC2E 2024. His work bridges academia and industry through collaborations on AI, IoT, and sustainable computing.
Sanjoy Paul is an Associate Professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Business School, specializing in supply chain management and operations research. He holds roles as Associate Editor of Business Strategy and the Environment and Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management . His research focuses on supply chain resilience, risk modeling, and sustainable practices, with applications to global disruptions like pandemics and IT outages. Paul has published in top-tier journals such as the European Journal of Operational Research and secured grants from government bodies including the Department of Defence. Education and Career: Prior to UTS, he worked at RMIT University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. He holds a PhD from UNSW, recognized with the Stephen Fester Prize for outstanding thesis. His career spans academic roles from Lecturer (2017) to Senior Lecturer (2019) before his current position since 2023. Research Contributions: Paul’s work bridges theoretical models and real-world applications, including recovery frameworks for supply chains during crises and strategies for sustainable practices in post-pandemic contexts. He frequently advises media on supermarket pricing, supply chain disruptions, and business strategies, appearing in outlets like The Guardian and ABC News . Awards and Recognition: His honors include the ASOR Rising Star Award, Research with Relevance Award, and inclusion in the top 2% global scientists (2020–2023). He has contributed to policy debates on supermarket competition, EV market dynamics, and Australia’s industrial strategies.
Overview Roberto Solis-Oba is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Western Ontario. He holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University (supervised by Prof. Greg Frederickson) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Informatics under Prof. Kurt Mehlhorn. His research focuses on algorithm design, particularly approximation algorithms for NP-hard optimization problems, with applications in networks, scheduling, packing, and computational biology. Education & Background Ph.D., Computer Science, Purdue University (1990s) Postdoctoral Fellowship, Max Planck Institute for Informatics Research Interests His work spans algorithm design, including approximation algorithms, data structures, parallel/distributed/online/randomized algorithms. Key application areas include networks, scheduling, packing optimization, computational biology, and data mining. He co-founded the Workshop on Approximation and Online Algorithms (WAOA), held annually since 2003. Awards & Recognition Faculty Scholar Award, University of Western Ontario USC Teaching Award, University of Western Ontario Professional Contributions Prof. Solis-Oba has served on program committees for major algorithm-focused conferences and contributed to research in scheduling, packing, and graph theory. His work emphasizes practical and theoretical advancements in algorithmic efficiency and optimization.
André Brinkmann is a full professor at the Department of Computer Science, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, leading the Efficient Computing and Storage Group. He previously served as head of the university's data center (2011–2021) and was an assistant professor at Paderborn University (2008–2011). He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Paderborn University (2004) and managed the Paderborn Centre for Parallel Computing (PC²). His research focuses on algorithm engineering for data center management, cloud computing, storage systems, and high-performance computing (HPC). Notable projects include: Development of ad hoc file systems like GekkoFS and IO-SEA for exascale architectures Optimization of storage systems (e.g., hybrid RAID, SSD garbage collection) Quantum computing compiler research for trapped-ion architectures Leadership in initiatives like the I/O Trace Initiative and BINARY (Big Data in Atmospheric Physics) He serves as Senior Associate Editor of ACM Transactions on Storage and co-chairs major conferences like FAST 2026 and ARCS 2026.
Federico Reghenzani is an Assistant Professor at Politecnico di Milano in the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering. His research focuses on computer science, embedded systems, fault tolerance, high-performance computing, real-time systems, and compiler technology. He leads the HEAP Lab where his team investigates reliability engineering and hardware-software co-design for safety-critical applications. Reghenzani's research examines software-based approaches to hardware fault tolerance, compiler technologies for reliability enhancement, and resource management in high-performance computing environments. His work has significant applications in aerospace systems, real-time embedded platforms, and next-generation computing architectures. His publications demonstrate a consistent focus on improving system reliability through compiler techniques, fault injection methodologies, and hardware-software co-design. The research spans theoretical frameworks, practical implementations, and experimental validation across diverse computing environments.
Bryan Ward is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering at Vanderbilt University's School of Engineering. His research focuses on enhancing the security and resilience of real-time and embedded systems in critical domains such as industrial control systems and space systems. Ward holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, along with dual bachelor's degrees in Computer Science and Engineering and Mathematics from Bucknell University. His academic contributions span multiple areas including operating system security, real-time scheduling, and hardware-software co-design for safety-critical systems. Key research themes include control-flow integrity, secure resource management in multi-core environments, and mitigating timing-based attacks in real-time embedded systems. Ward's work has explored advanced defense mechanisms like dynamic address space randomization, tagged architecture implementations, and retry-free transactional memory models. He has also investigated vulnerabilities in kernel scheduling and cache-sharing behaviors in multi-core platforms, proposing novel solutions to ensure predictability and security. Current projects emphasize securing cyber-physical systems through adaptive defenses that maintain strict timing guarantees required for safety-critical applications.
Najmaddin Akhundov is an Assistant Professor in the Decision Sciences and Marketing Department at the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, Adelphi University. His expertise lies in operations research, with a focus on integer programming, stochastic optimization, and simulation-based methods applied to scheduling, logistics, energy systems, and risk management. Education: Ph.D., Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Tennessee (2022) M.S., Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo (2015) B.S., Industrial Engineering, Baku Engineering University (2011) Research Interests: Dr. Akhundov’s research spans both methodological and applied domains. Methodologically, he advances integer programming , algorithmic development , simulation-based optimization , and stochastic programming . Application-wise, he tackles complex scheduling problems (staff, maintenance, power generators, production), reverse and last-mile logistics, evacuation planning, sustainable port management, and risk-informed maintenance planning. Recent publications (2019-2024) reveal a consistent trajectory toward integrating advanced optimization techniques with real-world operational challenges. Studies range from exploiting symmetry in job sequencing to configuring last-mile distribution networks, pricing risk in energy markets, and optimizing surveillance strategies against invasive species. Collectively, these works highlight a commitment to bridging theory and practice in operations research. Awards & Honors: INFORMS ENRE Best Publication Award in Natural Resources (2022) Harvey J. Greenberg Research Award – Honorable Mention, INFORMS Computing Society (2022) Graduate Fellowship Award, University of Tennessee (2018-2022) Best Graduate Presentation, Dana Knox Student Research Showcase (2018) Study Abroad Fellowship, Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan (2013-2015) Merit-Based Scholarships from Azercell Telecom and Baku Engineering University Teaching & Mentoring: At Adelphi, Dr. Akhundov teaches courses such as Management of Production/Operations and Statistical Methods, having previously taught Applied Operations Research, Optimization Techniques, and Mathematical Programming with MATLAB. While no specific advisees are listed in the provided text, his active research program and course offerings indicate ongoing engagement with both undergraduate and graduate students. Laboratories & Teams: While no dedicated laboratory is explicitly mentioned, his collaborative work with researchers from the University of Tennessee, University of Waterloo, and multiple international partners suggests participation in interdisciplinary research teams focused on optimization and logistics.
Dr. Gara Pruesse is a Professor in the Computer Science Department at Vancouver Island University (VIU), affiliated with the Faculty of Science and Technology. Her research focuses on discrete algorithms, particularly generating combinatorial objects, optimization and approximation algorithms for partially ordered sets, and graph algorithms. She teaches courses such as CSCI 159, CSCI 320: Foundations of Computer Science, and others in the Computer Science program. Her recent work includes collaborations, such as a 2013-14 sabbatical at the University of Toronto with Professors Derek G. Corneil and Lalla Mouatadid, exploring algorithms for poset optimization. She maintains active involvement in professional organizations like the ACM and shares job opportunities with her students through LinkedIn. Dr. Pruesse’s advising and teaching span undergraduate and graduate levels, with notable contributions to course development and student mentorship. Her research has led to advancements in combinatorial algorithms and their applications, reflecting her commitment to advancing theoretical computer science and its practical implications.
